Ryan stirred awake before his alarm went off, the faint gray light of dawn leaking through the blinds. He lay there for a moment, listening. No thunder, no monsters, no urgent system prompts flashing in his head. Just the soft hum of the dorm building coming alive—footsteps in the hall, showers turning on, muffled yawns drifting through thin walls.
For a fleeting second, he could almost believe he was just another student.
The resonance pulsed faintly in his chest, softer than usual, like it was still half-asleep. He sat up, running a hand through his messy hair, and stretched until his back popped.
Today, he decided, he would hold onto the quiet for as long as he could.
The cafeteria was already in full swing by the time Ryan arrived. The buzz of chatter bounced off the walls, trays clattered like cymbals, and the smell of fried yam mixed with stew filled the air.
Ethan spotted him instantly and waved with both arms, nearly knocking over someone else's juice. "Ryan! Savior of the breakfast line! Over here!"
Ryan tried not to roll his eyes as he slid into his usual seat. "Do you have to announce me like I'm a celebrity?"
"Yes," Ethan said with no shame. He shoved a plate of puff-puff toward Ryan. "Also, I got you these. Don't say I never give you gifts."
Maya, already sipping her tea, shook her head. "He stole them from another tray."
"Borrowed," Ethan corrected. "With the promise of spiritual repayment."
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure that's called theft."
Ethan gasped, clutching his chest like Ryan had stabbed him. "You wound me. First you ignore my genius meal inventions, now you attack my generosity? This is bullying, Alpha. Straight-up bullying."
Maya's lips twitched as she tried to hide her amusement. Ryan bit back a smile and reached for the puff-puff anyway. "If I eat these, I'm technically your accomplice."
"Exactly," Ethan said proudly. "Bonding through crime."
Ryan laughed quietly, the sound surprising even him. The heaviness he usually carried felt lighter here, softened by their ridiculous banter. The resonance stirred in his chest, warm and steady.
[Bond Strengthened.][Trust Level: 29%.]
Ryan's smile faded just slightly at the notification only he could see. These weren't just meals and jokes. They were connections the system itself was recognizing.
And that, somehow, mattered more than he knew how to explain.
Of course, Aria had no intention of letting the day stay lighthearted.
By late morning, she stood waiting at the training field, blade in hand, expression carved from stone.
"Ready?" she asked, though it wasn't really a question.
Ryan sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Do I ever get to say no?"
She answered by lunging at him.
Their clashes rang across the field—steel against claws, sparks flashing in the sunlight. Ryan moved quicker now, his body responding before his thoughts caught up. His claws sliced the air, close enough to graze Aria's arm. She countered sharply, her blade sliding past his ribs by a hair's breadth.
The fight became rhythm—strike, block, dodge, counter. The resonance thrummed louder, pushing his instincts forward, steadying his movements.
Aria's eyes flickered as he forced her back a step. "Better," she said, her tone clipped but approving.
Ryan grinned through his panting. "That's starting to sound like your favorite word."
"Don't flatter yourself." But there was the briefest curve at the corner of her mouth before she attacked again.
By the time they stopped, Ryan's shirt clung to him with sweat, his arms trembling from the effort. Yet instead of frustration, he felt a flicker of something else—pride. Not because he had beaten her (he hadn't), but because for once he hadn't been completely overwhelmed.
He could feel it in the way his lungs burned but his spirit didn't. He was getting stronger.
Aria sheathed her blade, giving him a long look. "You hesitate less now. Keep it that way."
Ryan nodded, wiping his forehead. "I'll try."
"No," she corrected. "Don't try. Do."
The words lodged in his chest like an anchor. And strangely, they steadied him.
The library became their sanctuary again that afternoon. Ethan sprawled dramatically across two chairs, one leg hanging off as if the table was a throne. Maya sat opposite him, restringing her bow with careful precision. Ryan actually cracked open a book, determined to focus.
Of course, Ethan wouldn't allow it.
"Serious question," Ethan announced. "If Ryan were a bird, what bird would he be?"
Ryan groaned. "Why is it always me?"
"Because you're funny when you're annoyed," Ethan said cheerfully. He tapped his chin. "I vote eagle. Noble, intimidating, cries dramatically when flying into sunsets."
Maya glanced up thoughtfully. "Owl. Watchful. Quiet. Smarter than he looks."
Ryan blinked. "…Was that a compliment?"
Maya shrugged, hiding a faint smile. "Maybe."
Ethan gasped. "Ryan the Owl Mango Coconut. The myth grows."
Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to regret ever sitting with you two."
But he didn't mean it. Not really. Because in their laughter, in Maya's subtle warmth, in Ethan's over-the-top antics, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time. Belonging.
The resonance stirred again, steady and undeniable.
[Bond Strengthened.][Status: Potential Pack Member—Developing.]
Ryan leaned back in his chair, watching them argue over bird categories now. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. This was how bonds were forged—not through bloodshed, but through moments like these.
That night, the lanterns in the courtyard had dimmed, but the air still carried their glow. Most students had gone inside, leaving the campus quieter than usual.
Ryan walked the paths with Aria a few paces behind him, Ethan and Maya trailing slightly farther. The grass glistened with dew, and the sky stretched wide, scattered with stars.
For once, none of them spoke much. The silence wasn't heavy—it was comfortable.
Ryan tilted his head back, staring at the stars. He remembered nights as a child when his parents had taken him stargazing. Back then, the sky had felt like a playground of mysteries. Now, it felt like a reminder. A reminder that even in the chaos, some things remained steady.
Ethan broke the quiet first, of course. "You think the stars judge us? Like, 'Wow, that guy ate four plates of beans in one sitting'?"
Maya snorted. "If they do, you're doomed."
Ryan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Pretty sure the stars have better things to do."
But even as he said it, the resonance pulsed stronger in his chest, stretching outward, weaving invisible threads between the four of them.
[Objective Progress: Gather Your Pack.][Current Pack Bonds: 3.]
Ryan exhaled slowly, his gaze still on the stars. Three bonds. Not just numbers. Not just allies. People. Friends.
And in that quiet, beneath the vast night sky, Ryan realized something new.
The prophecy might have chosen him. The system might be pushing him. But what really mattered was here—these bonds, this fragile, imperfect, stubborn little group that made him feel like he wasn't alone anymore.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to keep walking forward.